One-piece undergarment



March 7, l1939-l w. A. BLANkENH-ORN ONE-PIECE UNDERGARMENT Filed June 18, 1937 Fig 2 J/ENTOR 5MM" W WAL ATTORNEY M Patented Mar. 7, 1939 UNITED STATES lPATENT OFFICE Warren A. Blankenhorn, Chattanooga, Tenn. Application June 18, 1937, Serial No. 149,023

2 Claims.

My invention relates to under garments and more particularly to under wear possessing the advantages of both the socalled shirts and shorts and of union suits.

5 Of the various types of mens underwear perhaps the two piece type of shirt and short is most extensively used. This is undoubtedly due to their pleasing appearance, and further to the fact that the upper element is composed of relatively elastic material while the lower element is of relatively non-absorbing inelastic material.

Sucha combination provides stretchable material for the thorax, and firmv relatively inexpansible for the hips. Finally, this combination is simple and economical of construction.

Some ofA the ydisadvantages are that the shirts tend to crawl up out of the shorts when worn, and gather in wrinkles or pleats. After dressing it is often necessary to lower the pants of the outer garment, and the shorts of the underwear. In redressing it is diflicult to separate the outer shirt and the inner shirt, requiring considerable time, annoyance and difficulty is separating and positioning them. Further the securing of the 25 shorts in position requires the buttoning of three buttons, and in using the commode it is necessary to remove the shorts from position. A still further disadvantage is that the shorts tend to slip down over the hips of the wearer and cause him 90 a great deal of discomfort.

Some eiort has been made in a different type of undergarment to overcome some of the above diiiculties by providing a relatively expansible shirt portion joined to a relatively inexpansible lower portion having expansible inserts in the lower portion. The joining means comprises rows Vof stitches at the waist line, which waist lineis relatively inexpansible. That garment is form iitting and is primarily for winter wear, button- 40 ing up the front. The form tting garment with its knitted parts will act as a sponge for perspiration, transmitting it through the clothes and making them wet and clingy. The expansible parts of the lower portion alsormake it baggy and cause 45 itto lose its shape. The use of an inexpansible waist line prevents the garment from taking the form of the body about the waist and from acting upon the abdomen to reinforce and maintain it in shape. Furthermore the inelastic Waist line y s permits the garment to slip down oi the body as soon as the garment is removed from the shoulders of the wearer.

`Applicant with a knowledge of all of these defects in and objections to the prior art has for 55 an object of his invention the` provision of an undergarment having a knitted form tting stretchable shirt portion secured through a line of stitches or other appropriate means to a pair of loose tting relatively inexpansible shorts or pants, preferably woven, so that the shirt portion 5 ts snugly, and conforms to the changing contour of the upper part of the body, being readily stretchable to permit expansion and contraction of the chest, and the pants t loosely and rmly to prevent sticking of the cloth to the body and the transfer of perspiration to the outer garments, always retaining its shape and form and being always cool.

Applicant has as another object of his invention the provision of a one-piece undergarment 15 with anupper knitted sleeveless shirt and woven shorts secured thereto through a line or lines of stitches of thread. One or more of the shoulder straps of the shirt being made in two pieces and joinable through snaps or other appropriate means, so the shorts may first be slipped on and then the shirt secured in place by securing the straps over the shoulders.

Applicant has as another object of his invention the provision of an undergarment having shirt and pant portions secured together at the Waist line which waist is reinforced to slenderize the abdomen. Elastic is placed in the waist line of the garment throughout or preferably at intervals. In this manner the waist is drawn into tight tting or close engagement with the body and the pants are supported upon the body independently of the shoulder straps and after the shirt has been lowered and removed from the upper portion of the body.

Applicant'has as a further object of his invention the provision of a single piece undergarment with a trap seat.

Applicant has as a still further object of his invention the provision of a single piece under garment having an elastic insert between the legs which acts as a suspensory.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the following specification and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the annexedvclaims.

In the drawing Figure l is a front elevation o1' a preferred embodiment of my invention. kligu're 2 is a rear elevation of the same form. Figure 3 is a rear elevation of a part of my invention with the trap seat lowered.

Referring to the drawing in detail A designates the shirt portion of my invention or improved undergarment, which shirt is made of knitted material having straps I for engaging the shoul- 5 ders of the body. ne of the straps is made in two parts having overlapping ends which are secured together through a snap F. While only one two-part strap is shown it is clear that under certain conditions both straps should be made in two separable parts.

At or about the waist line the shirt A terminates and is joined through rows of stitches or other appropriate means to pants or shorts B of firmly woven fabric which do not form fit the body of the wearer. At the upper end of the pants B and encircling the top is a waist band c, with elastic inserts J therein, which band forms a reinforced medium for holding in place the abdomen and for preserving its shape, tending at all times to slenderize the forms of persons having large abdomens. E represents a placket or vent in the front of the garment and takes the form generally of a fly.

In the rear of the pants A is a trap seat D securedpat its lower end to said pants and closing an opening in the rear of said pants, being secured to the garment at its upper end through lsnaps H, H. Between the legs of the pants is an elastic or knitted insert G for acting as a suspensory.

While applicant has disclosed a trap seat it is contemplated that a ily seat or any other type of appropriate seat may be substituted therefor Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

My undergarment is positioned upon the body of the wearer by inserting the legs through and into the garment and through the leg vportions of th-e pants, and by pulling the pants up to the point where the expansible waist line C snugly engages the waist of the wearer. Then one arm is slipped through one shoulder strap and the other strap is lapped over the other shoulder and snap F fastened. 'I'his operation is very simple and easy, and requires a minimum of time.

My garment has all of the advantages 0I shirts and shorts and is more economical to produce by reason of the saving of material, elimination of crawling of the shirt and the slipping down of the shorts, and is much simpler to put on and remove,

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An undergarment of the character described, comprising an upper waist portion of relatively stretchable material, a lower portion in the form of trunks, of relatively unstretchable material, said lower and upper portions being continuous at substantially the waist line, and being joined together thereat, means for constrcting Said lower portion, about the intermediate portion of the body for independently supporting said lower portion, and a utility opening formed in said lower portion.

2. An undergarment of the character described, including an upper waist portion of relatively stretohable material, a lower portion in the form of trunks of relatively unstretchable material, said upper and lower portions being continuous at substantially the waist line, and being joined together thereat, means for constricting said lower portion, about an intermediate portion of the body for independently supporting said lower portion, said means including elastic on the back of said lower portion, adjacent to the sides and a closable utility opening located in the seat of said trunks.

WARREN A. BLANKENHORN. 

